RAVE: Empanadas Café

At first glance, one might wonder who had the cojones to open an empanada store across the street from one of the most celebrated Latin restaurants in the country. Yet after stopping in to see what Empanadas Café (123 Washington Street) has to offer, you’ll soon realize we’re talking manzanas y naranjas here.

Obviously the café offers empanadas—as does nearby La Isla. Empanadas Café, however, specializes in Argentinian cuisine. The baked empanadas are flakier, and while the chicken and beef are delicious, the range of savory selections is where this tiny little café separates itself from its Cuban neighbor—spicy chicken, sausage, pork and plum, bacon and egg, blue cheese, caprese, tuna, shrimp and more.

In addition to the namesake empanadas, the café offers zucchini pie; spinach pie; ham, egg and cheese tart; and a selection of sweet Argentinian baked goods—plus coffee and espresso.